LYNN — The North Shore Phillies took on the Beverly Recs in the North Shore Baseball Leagues semi-final. Beverly Recs won with a final score of 1-0 at the end of the 11th. The Phillies still hold a 2-1 series lead.
Dillon Gonzalez hit a single for Beverly but was left stranded in the bottom of the first.
The Phillies went down one-two-three in the bottom of the first.
“They’re a great team, and we anticipated a battle. I don’t think we ever had a blowout of a game against them in our playoff history,” said player Sean Buckland. “It comes down to executing and timely hitting, and you know, unfortunately, we didn’t do either tonight.”
Beverly went one-two-three in the top of the second.
Hunter Willchoski hit a double for the Phillies but was left stranded in the bottom of the second.
Kevin Murray singled in the top of the third. Gonzalez was hit by a pitch, advancing Murray. Brandon Bingel then walked, loading the bases, but all were left on.
Both Tim Catalano and Jomar Moreta hit fly balls to the right while White hit a fly ball to left, leaving the score 0-0 in the bottom of the third.
“It’s a five-game series; we play them again Tuesday at Beverly, which is their home,” said Buckland. “We’re still in control of the series 2-1, but, you know, Tuesday is going to be a grind as well.”
Frankie DiOrio walked in the top of the fourth and advanced to third on Murray’s single. Murray then stole second, but both were left stranded.
John Mulready hit a double in the bottom of the fourth however was left on.
Gonzalez hit a double in the top of the fifth but was left stranded.
“We’ve been here all year, and we’re just going to come ready to play, bring the energy, and we’re just going to execute better,” said Buckland. “It’s as simple as that. We don’t have to rewrite the book, but we got to come ready to play.”
Willchoski led with a single in the bottom of the fifth however ended up in a double play with Catalano.
Beverly went three up and three down in the top of the sixth, keeping the score 0-0.
“It really starts with the guy on the mound. He did his job, and we did our best to do our job and support him, and he pitched his ass off,” said catcher John Mulready.
Kurtis White hit a lead-off single in the bottom of the sixth. Nick Powers singled too but was thrown out at second trying to extend his contact to a double, leaving White on.
Beverly went one-two-three again in the top of the seventh.
Kyle Devin hit a fly ball out to center, where Gonzalez made a diving catch. Willchoski then walked and headed home on Catalano’s single, only to get thrown out at the plate in the bottom of the seventh.
Bingel hit a single in the top of the eighth only to be left on when Catalano made a diving catch to end the inning.
White hit a single in the bottom of the eighth but was left on with the score still 0-0.
Mulready led off with a single in the bottom of the ninth and advanced when Beverly intentionally walked Willchoski; however, both were left on.
Gonzalez walked in at the top of the 10th but was left stranded.
White was walked in the bottom of the 10th but was again stranded on base.
Mike Davis scored the first and eventual game-winning run, hitting a home run leading off in the top of the 11th, making the score 1-0 Beverly. DiOdio and Ethan Trowt hit singles, but DiOdio was thrown out at second, and Trowt was caught trying to get back to first.
“We just didn’t come through with that one big hit. After all, that’s really what it comes down to. But we played hard, and we’re going to be ready Tuesday,” said Mulready. “That’s for sure.”
Mulready was walked at the bottom of the 11th however was left stranded with the game ending 1-0.
“We’ll be ready; we’re called the fighting Phills for a reason,” said Mulready. “It was a long game, but if anybody is going to bounce back, it’s us.”
Maddi Filip can be reached at [email protected].
